Chief Constable David Crompton, who earns £208,000 a year, has been accused of trying to protect his force's reputation rather than catching the men responsible.

Last week it emerged that at least 1,400 vulnerable young girls had been raped or abused by mainly Asian grooming gangs.

Only five men have so far been convicted.

But critics say that instead of dealing with the scandal head on, the South Yorkshire chief - dubbed Disaster Dave by some of his officers - was more interested in the image of his force.

The claims appear to be backed up by an email he sent in 2012, obtained by Liverpool Labour MP Steve Rotheram.

We can reveal Mr Crompton sought public relations advice from a spin doctor who helped the Metropolitan Police after the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005. Mr Crompton wrote in an email to his PR manager: "A lady from the Met press office did some very good work around the reputation management of the force following the De Menezes shooting.

“I've described South Yorkshire Police as incompetent”

Simon Danczuk, Labour MP

"Could you make contact with her and see what pearls of wisdom she can offer in our current situation? "I'd like us to start actively thinking about internal and external comms strategies to help us bounce back."

The email was sent around the time Mr Crompton appeared before the Home Affairs Select Committee and was told to "get a grip" on child sex offending in Rotherham.

MPs were angry more alleged child abusers had not been charged, despite strong evidence against them.

A further report claimed South Yorkshire Police was still failing to record crimes against children and had an "unacceptable" culture of disregarding victims of serious abuse.

Despite these findings not one officer has been reprimanded over the force's failings.

On Friday Mr Crompton, who became chief constable in 2012, apologised to the victims.

He said officers could still be held accountable for previous failures.

"I know from work I have done that if there are 1,400 victims there are dozens upon dozens of perpetrators.

"That means because they have only been able to prosecute five in the last few years there are dozens upon dozens of offenders walking the streets of Rotherham and South Yorkshire because he as chief constable has failed to get his force into action, making arrests and prosecuting cases against these people."

Mr Danczuk added: "The chief constable is exposed. He certainly has questions to answer. Why have they not prosecuted more cases in the last 12 months? "They've got 1,400 victims. What do they need? 1,400 victims giving evidence - I'm not saying all would co-operate but it's a lot of people to go at. They would corroborate stories about particular abusers."

Justice campaigner Neil Wilby said: "On any independent view David Crompton is unfit to run any police force, let alone one as troubled as South Yorkshire Police."

Mr Crompton previously came under attack from families of Hillsborough victims after he criticised them.

In an email before the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012, he wrote: "The Hillsborough Campaign for Justice will be doing their version…in fact their version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't." Margaret Aspinall, whose son James, 18, was one of 96 Liverpool fans who died in the disaster, said: "What he said in that email was a disgrace. He should consider his position."

Later that year Mr Crompton was accused of attempting to hush up claims his officers framed dozens of striking miners in what was dubbed the "Battle of Orgreave" in 1984.

After a TV documentary about the strike, Mr Crompton emailed members of his police authority, writing: "At the moment there is only very moderate press interest.

"We do not intend to put up anyone for interview and we are trying to keep the 'Orgreave' i ssue reasonably low profile."

The gaffe-prone officer was also criticised last month over his force's inquiry into allegations against singer Sir Cliff Richard.